Grate



Aug. 23, 1932. F. A. LQRENZ, JR

GRATE Filed Feb 11. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l QM. MM..

QGQGOQGQGQQQQQQ.

QN QM.

@Qdddgwdddddfdd@ GQOGGGWQGGGGGTQOG GW@ Aug. 23, 1932. F. A. LORENZ. JR

Ymwrla:

Filed Feb. 11. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 o 95mm@mmmwmwmmwmm o EN@@@GOGGOQGOOGGQOOM Nth A MH@0G000006666099@Qa.. @oooooooeoooooooooooooooooooooo 7 NNN Patented Aug. 23, 1932 stares PArENT erstesrnnnnn'rcx A. LORENZ, an., ory lcrircAeo, ILLrNoIs, `AssrerisonA 'roAMERICAN STEEL FoUNnnIns, on' CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A 'CORPORATION or' NewJERSEYV 'u GRATE p- Application mea'rebruary 11,1929. serial No.338,927.

This invention pertains to grates, and more particularly to the dumping.orrocking type of multiple section gratesy used in locomotive fireboxesor the like.

There are special requirements for gratesA to be used in locomotiveservice which reqirements are peculiar to that service alone and vwhichmust be constantly borne in mindA to produce a successful device,lespecially as there is an increasing tendency for long runs. One ofthese requirements is that the grates must be of sufficient width toallow rapid cleaning of the fire.l ln other words, when the grates arein dumping position, there must be an open space between themlarge'enough to freely pass all clinkers which have/been formed. lt isnot uncommon to replace locomotlve grate bars from time to time, themost common causes for replacement being-one:

lburning' of the top surface of the grates, and

two thermal cracks appearing in the top surface ofthe grates. t

Burning or 'cracking of course necessitates the removal of theentire'grate bar so burned or cracked, and is due to the fire cominginto direct contact with the metal'of the bar. The temperature of thelire being far above the fusing temperature ofthe metal usually used forthese grate bars, large holes are produced in the bars whichin turnproduce holes in thek lire which are very detrimental to propercombustion. f Thermal cracks are caused by unequal heating of the gratebar structure. The usual design of structure has a top surfaceto'support the fuel and admit air to the fuel bed, the structure beingstrengthened on theunderV side. by deep ribs cast integral with the top,and the top surface is often in direct contact with the fire while thestrengthening ribs are kept comparatively cool by the rush of airthrough the grate bar to the iire. lhisfpro duces a very unequal and badcondition of expansion and contraction in the casting, resulting'inthermal cracks in the top surface of the assembly. Once the cracks arestarted, it

is only a question of time as to when they will extend all the way thruthe casting, and for this reason grates .must be inspected very closelyat terminals in order that the grateA bar may last as long as possibleand yet be removed before it breaks, as a breakage on the road wouldcause engine failure.

It is therefore desirable to design a grate bar wit-h a separate topwhich is in contactv with and supports the fuel bed, said top beingsupported on 'a strength carrying member, and 'this strength carryingmember would practically kbe a permanent part of the loco- 'motive,'while the `top could be cheaply and quickly removed for replacement.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a grateassembly which is inexpensive to build and maintain, and one whichfulfills'y all of the above enumerated requirements for economicalmaintenance and successful operation.

Another object is to provide a grate bar assembly which effectivelyresists distortion, is readily removable and permits rapid cleaning ofthe fire and changes of the grate bars.

Still another object is to provide agrate assembly which affordssubstantially no resistance to expansion and contraction, yet at thesame time is fiXedly supported and ef-k fectively resists warping andtwisting.

Another Objectis to provide a grate assembly wherein the securingmembers between' parts are reduced to a minimum and wherein theclearances are predetermined and arranged to permit ease of operation,assemblage and replacement.,

A further object is to provide a grate assembly whereinV the tablegrates are interchangeable and the clearances are predetermined by saidtable gratos.

:A still further object is to provide a grate frameor load carryingmember which is of ample strength, is air cooled to the greatestpossible degree, is designed to hold the top plates firmlyv in place,and yet allows for full expansion and contraction, andiinally one whichis inexpensive to produce.

Av further object is to provide a table grate or plate for cooperationwith a frame fulnovel features of construction and operation,

as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in thespecification, 'drawings andclaims appended hereto. Y

In the drawings, which illustrate an einbodiment of the deviceandwherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts;

Figure 1 is a top plan view, showing the supporting relation of thegrate frame to one of the grate plate members and indicating therelation between a pair of said grate plate members Figure 2 is a ,sideelevation, partly in section, of the grate assembly shown in Figure 1,showing, the relation of a pair of grate members in the assembly;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional side elevation of the grate assemblyshown in Figure 1, the same being taken substantially in the plane asindicated bythe line 3-3 of Figure 1; Y

Figurer4 is a fragmentary top plan View of a modified form of supportfor the grate members; c y

Figure 5 is a top plan view of a modified form of assembly showing thesupporting relation of the grate frame to one of the' grate platemembersand indicatingk the relation between a pair of said grate platemembers;

Figure 6 is a side elevation, partly in section,A of lthe grate assemblyshown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is an end elevation of the grate assembly shown in Figure 5;and

Figure 8 is a sectional end elevation of the grate assembly shown inVFigure 5, the same being taken'substantially in the plane as indicatedby the line 8 8 of Figure 6.

Referring first of all tothe grate assembly illustrated in Figures 1 to3 inclusive, the supporting frame 10 includes a pair of spaced parallellongitudinal ribs 12 joined atrone end thereof by a trunnion socket 14and vat the other end thereof by a horseshoe socket 16.

The ribs 12 may be of substantial truss shape, that is, having thegreatest depth adjacent the center thereof in order to closelyapproximate a beam of uniform strength under a uniform load. The ribsare joined at their endsv'by transversely extending members 18providedrwith a longitudinal slot. 20, said members providing guideportions 22 for a locking member to be later described, provided on eachgra-te plate and also providing an overhang 24 for said locking member,and the ribs 12 are provided with horizontally and outwardly extendingsupporting members 26 disposed on the outersides of said ribs 12 andpreferably adjacent the member 18.

The assembly shown is adapted for use with a pair of grate plates 31,though it is to be understood that any number of grate plates maybeused, these grate plates being provided with suitable apertures 33 toprovide draft therethrough. In this case, the ribs are provided adjacentthe center thereof with integral spaced ribs 28, spaced to provide alocking aperture 3() for the reception of depending locking membersprovided on each of the grate plates, it being seen that the ribs 28 arecomparatively shallow and preferably disposed adjacent the top edge ofthe ribs 12. The grate plates are identical in design and constructionand may be either fiat or arcuate in shape, are interchangeable, and areprovide-d on their under side with longitudinal marginal ribs 32, saidribs being joined by transversely extending longitudinal rib 34, saidmarginal rib of each of said plates being provided with a boss 36,

bosses of said plates being adapted to have contact with adjacent platesto maintain the same in proper spaced relation with respect to eachother.

. The plates may also be provided with a transversely extending rib 38preferably removed from the trunnion end of said plates and integralwith the marginal ribs 32 and the grate plate, and a longitudinallyextending reinforcing rib 40 may also be provided on the under side ofsaid grate plate, preferably integral with said plate and with thetransverse ribs 34 and 38. The grate plates are each provided with acentrally disposed outwardly and downwardly extending hook lug 42, saidhook lug being preferably integral with the grate plate and with thetransversely extending rib 38 and being in effect a continuation of thelongitudinally extending rib 40. The marginal flange 34 is provided witha depending apertured lug 44 on the longitudinal center line thereof,said lug extending transversely of the plate and being adapted to beinserted in the aperture 30 formed between the ribs 28.

When the grate plates and grate frame are in assembled position, the lug42 extends under and engages the overhanging shoulder 24 of the member18, being positioned by portions 22 forming the slot 20, and the lugs 44are positioned in the aperture 30. Lugs 44 are each provided with akeyway 46 adapted to receive a locking key 48 which when driven homelocks the supporting frame and grates in a unit assembly, it being seenthat one key serves to lock the pair of grates and may Contact the underside of the ribs 28 for 'slot 106 for the reception of securing theadjacent ends of the plates. The bosses 36 contact with adjacent platesto act as limiting clearance means, providing a constant air space andfacilitating an assemblage of the parts.

ln assembling this form of grate, it is found convenient to first slipone of the hooks 42 beneath the overhang 24 of the frame and lower theinner portion of the plate into contact with the grate frame, the lugbeing ldisposed in the aperture 30. The other plate is lowered in placein the same manner and is locked by means of inserting the key 44 intoaligned apertures 46 provided on members 44, and it will be seen that avery rigid unit is provided as there is no clearance between the underportion of the overhang 24 and the hooks 42, while there is clearancelongitudinally of the frame between the overhang 24 and the hooks,permitting expansion of the grate plates. The plates, it will be seen,are supported at a plurality of points on the frame, the transverse rib34 having supporting contact on the ribs 12 and the transverse ribhaving supported Contact on the ribs 12 and the outwardly extending lugs26.

Referring now to the modified form of support shown in Figure 4, it willbe seen that this support is provided with only a single longitudinalrib l00,.this rib being provided with trunnions 102 at each end integralwith and preferably of the socket and horseshoe types. rlhe rib 1.00 isprovided with an enlarged portion 104 adjacent the trunnions, each ofsaid portions being provided with a a hook 42 of the grate plates 31,and the enlarged portion 104 may be provided with outwardly extendingsupporting lugs 108 corresponding to the supporting lugs 26 for contactwith the depending rib 38, in a manner as already described. ln thiscase, the longitudinal rib 100 may be provided with a single enlargedportion 110 adjacent the center thereof, provided with an aperture 112corresponding to the aperture 30, said aperture 112 being for thereception of the depending locking members 44, in a manner as hasalready been described.

Referring now more particularly to the modification illustrated inFigures `5 to 8 in elusive, the supporting frame 200 shown provided withthe usual shaker arm 202, comprises a single longitudinal rib 204 havingthe trunnion socket 206 provided at one end and a horseshoe socket 208,provided at the opposite end. This rib is preferably substantially oftruss shape and the sockets are provided with outwardly extendinglocking lugs 210, preferably provided adjacent their upper surface, andoutwardly extending securing lugs 212 are provided adjacent the centerof the support, each of said lugs being provided with an aperture 214for the reception of locking 8 plates.

lugs `provided fon thegrate .plate-216. It will be vseen that1`theplate'support is-provided for cooperative. relation with a pair ofgrateplates only, though it lis to be understood :that itmaybea'daptedlo use any number .of plates.

The grate plates 216 are `provided withl draft v apertures 218,saidxplates. being" provided with la marginal flange'220 extendingcompletely around the. plate and being adapted to have supportingrelation with the frame and trunnion, as shown in Figure v6.` Themarginal fla-nge of the plates is provided with outwardly spaced hooks222 adapted to fit' under and have locking relation with the lugs 210,said hooks being integralwi-th the plate and a portion of the marginalflange.` .The opposite marginal iange, which forms -a seat on the frameand on the lugsy 212, is provided with spaced depending securing lugs2,24 apertured for the reception of a locking key 226 passing throughadjacent lugs224 of a pair of grate Each of the grate plates is providedwith a boss 228 adaptedto abut the adjacent grate platefor maintainingthe` grate plates in proper operative position. l j v AThe assembling ofAthis modification is performed in a similar manner-.to 'that` as; readydescribed with vrespectgto ythe modifica tionilliistrated in Figures 1.to 3 inclusive, that is, one of the plates is positionedl onitstru-linien', the hooks 222 {exteiidingrbeneath the lugs 210 andtheinnerend of theplate is lowered in'position wherethegdownwardlyextending lugs 224 extend Vin their respective apertures':214 provided in the lugs 212. The

other plate is lowered into position in a sima il'ar manner, .lugs 228contacting adjacent plates tomaintain the ,same inoperative po-1.

sition, the apertures and the lugs 224 being in register, whereupon,keys 226 may be inserted in position in adjacent lugs ofadjacentplates, thereby locking the pair of plates in assembledposition, it being seen that asingle key is utilized -to lock a pair'ofplates'.4

. 1t is tobe understood thatA I do not wish' to'be limited by tlievexactembodiment of trie.

device shown, which is merely byway of illustration and not-limitation,asvarious an and longitudinallyextending alf otherj forms of thedevicewill of course bel apparent to those skilled. in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention oi the-scopejof theelaims.

al, claim.: y f a :supporting frame comprising spaced parallel bcanisrof'substantially uniform strength, integral trunnion sockets located atopposite ends of'said parallel beams and uniting the saine, reenforcedgrate members resting upon and carried by said supporting frame, adownwardly extending apertured lug on the adjacent ends of each of saidgrate members,

a centrally located aperture provided on said izo o 1 Ina grateAassembly, the combination ofl 'al a support, trunnion sockets providedat the '45: grate members carried by said Support and support and havingsupporting frame receiving said downwardly extending lugs of said gratemembers, and a key positioned in said downwardly extending lugs andbearing against the under surface of said aperture for securing saidgrate members and said supporting frame in a locked, assembled andoperative position.

2. In a grate assembly, the combination of a support having trunnionsockets 'formed f thereon, securing meansspacedy from said sockets, arecessed portion adjacent said sockets, supporting means on said supportdisposedadjacent said sockets and said securing means, grate memberscarried by said portions engaging said supporting means, saidmemberhaving means lockingly vengaging said recessed portion, and meanscooperating with said securing means for maintaining said grate membersin operative position, said grate members having means for maintainingthe same in spaced relation.

3.v In a grate assembly, the combination of a support having trunnionsocketsv formed thereon, securing means spaced from said sockets, arecessed portion adjacent said sockets, supporting means on said supportdisposed adjacent said sockets and said securing means, grate memberscarried by said support and having portions engaging said supportingmeans, said members having means lockingly engaging said recessedp0rtion, and means cooperating with said securing means for maintainingsaid grate members in operative position, said grate meinbers havingbosses engaging the adjacent grate members for maintaining said membersin spaced relation.

4. In a grate assembly, the combination Of ends of and integral withsaid support, said sockets each being provided with a boss, transverselyextending members provided on said support intermediate the endsthereof,

relatively spaced by bosses contacting adjacent grate members, portionsof said grate members being spaced from said bosses to provide draftclearances, hook members on said grate members for lockingly engagingsaid first named boss, a depending apertured lug provided on each ofsaid grate members, lugs on adjacent grate members being disposedadjacent. said transverse members, and fastening means common to thelugs of adjacent grate members for securing said grate members andsupport in operative position.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 7th day of w February, 1929.

FREDERICK A. LORENZ, JR.

